You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Mon, Jan 7, 2013 : 6:37 p.m.

Memorial service set for Saline man who died ice fishing

By Cindy Heflin

A memorial service will be held Friday for Michael J. Shofstall, who died Thursday while ice fishing in Lenawee County.

Michael_shofstall.jpg

Michael Shofstall

Photo via Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home

Shofstall, 62, was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He worked as a millwright at Ford Motor Company for many years until his retirement, according to his obituary.

Shofstall and his friend Gerald Smith were ice fishing Thursday in their shanty on Timber Lake in Lenawee County's Cambridge Township when the ice started to crack, police said. The men fell into the near-freezing water. Smith managed to hold onto the edge of the ice until rescued, but Shofstall slipped below the surface and was declared dead after rescuers pulled him from the water.

Shofstall enjoyed fishing, football, golf and bowling, according to the obituary.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria, and two daughters, Erica Pasternak of Pinckney and Jennifer Platt of Morenci, Ariz.

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline. Friends may call from 10 a.m. Friday until the service. Military services also will be held on Friday at the funeral home under the auspices of the Veterans Honor Guard Of Washtenaw County. Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Read the full obituary or leave a tribute at the funeral home’s website.

Comments

dsponini

Wed, Jan 9, 2013 : 2:41 p.m.

Good looking man...rest in peace Mr. Shofstall. Thank you for making the Humane Society recipient for memorial contributions.

RuralMom

Tue, Jan 8, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.

Mike was one of my Father's BEST FRIENDS, right along with Smitty. They started out downriver, went to trade school together (all three of them) and then when Ford's hired them, all the families moved out to the Saline area. Mike was an AWESOME MAN, HUSBAND, & FATHER. My heart breaks for Gloria, Erica, Jennifer and those precious grandbabies. The only upside of this tragic situation is my family has heard from former Ford workers who remember all three of them, most of them we haven't heard from since my father's passing in 2006 at the Ford plant in Saline, where Mike was right with Daddy during his final moments. MIKE SHOFSTALL was the kind of man you want your son, husband, and ALL men to be. Being millwrights, I know somewhere they are giving engineers heck from the otherside together.

Paul

Tue, Jan 8, 2013 : 12:05 a.m.

RIP, your photo reminds me of a cool older dude I used to know.